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UK Hires Dr. Cynthia Cole As Acting Lab Director

Dr. Cynthia Cole has been named the acting laboratory director of the UK Equine Analytical Chemistry Laboratory (EACL), effective March 15, 2024, according to a press release from the University of Kentucky Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment.

Cole brings over 30 years of experience to the role, with a diverse background spanning academia, industry and research, according to the UK release. Previously, Cole served as an associate clinical professor and director of The Racing Laboratory at the University of Florida from 2002-2006 and again from 2018-2023 when the laboratory closed.

Just last week, the Racing Medication and Testing Consortium (RMTC) suspended its accreditation of the University of Kentucky's Equine Analytical Chemistry Laboratory, according to the RMTC's executive director, Michael Hardy.

That followed news the prior week that the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA) and Horseracing Integrity and Welfare Unit (HIWU) had opened an investigation into the UK Laboratory's performance, and that the agencies were cooperating with the university's own investigation into the matter.

The university is also conducting an ongoing personnel investigation relating to former lab director Scott Stanley and that “Dr. Stanley was not permitted to be in direct communication with the other staff at the laboratory,” HISA and HIWU wrote in a joint statement two weeks ago.

HIWU stopped sending samples to the UK Lab on Feb. 16. Prior to that, the laboratory had been one of six drug testing facilities used under HISA's Anti-Doping and Medication Control (ADMC) program. According to the RMTC's Hardy, his organization alerted the University of Kentucky to the RMTC's laboratory accreditation suspension on Mar. 11.

Cole was one of the founding faculty members of the KL Maddy Equine Analytical Chemistry Laboratory at the University of California, Davis (1995-2002). She holds a D.V.M., Ph.D. and completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Florida and is recognized as a Diplomate in the American College of Veterinary Clinical Pharmacology. Cole has also made significant contributions in her industry roles at Mars Petcare, Novartis Animal Health, IDEXX and Piedmont Pharmaceuticals.

In her role as acting director, Cole will oversee all operations of the laboratory, including reviewing procedures from sample receiving to results and ensuring compliance with all applicable accreditation criteria.

“With the resources, energy and support that UK, the racing industry, elected policymakers and other stakeholders have invested in the Equine Analytical Chemistry Laboratory, it is poised to be an industry leader in forensic drug testing,” said Dr. Cole. “Moving forward, and working with the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority, the Horseracing Integrity and Welfare Unit and regulators of sport horse competitions, I am confident that we can achieve that vision.”

Leveraging her background in veterinary medicine and pharmacology, Cole will also provide guidance on chemistry and sample analysis to ensure the accuracy and reliability of testing procedures. Additionally, she will supervise daily laboratory activities, offering leadership and support to staff members to maintain the highest standards of performance.

“We warmly welcome Dr. Cole to the college,” said Nancy Cox, vice president of land-grant engagement and dean of Martin-Gatton CAFE. “Her extensive experience and proven leadership will be instrumental in advancing the EACL's history of providing drug testing that meets the highest industry standards. She will also be instrumental in upholding the integrity of the equine industry, advancing the health and welfare of the horse.”

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RMTC Suspends Accreditation of UK Laboratory

The Racing Medication and Testing Consortium (RMTC) has suspended its accreditation of the University of Kentucky's Equine Analytical Chemistry Laboratory, according to the RMTC's executive director, Michael Hardy.

This follows news last week that the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA) and Horseracing Integrity and Welfare Unit (HIWU) have opened an investigation into the UK Laboratory's performance, and that the agencies were cooperating with the university's own investigation into the matter.

According to Stanley, he stepped down as the UK Lab's director at the beginning of March and has been reassigned within the university. Blood-Horse reported that he had been “removed” from the position.

When asked what specific developments had prompted the RMTC to take this action, Hardy pointed to the RMTC's laboratory code of standards, section 2.4.9.2.

The document outlines 10 possible considerations that may prompt the RMTC to suspend its accreditation of a laboratory:

Accreditation suspensions by international lab oversight bodies.
Failure to take appropriate corrective action after unsatisfactory performance either in routine Analytical Testing or in proficiency testing.
Failure to comply with any of the requirements or standards listed in an international laboratory accreditation cooperation document.
Failure to cooperate with the RMTC or the relevant State Horse Racing Authority in providing requested documentation.
Lack of compliance with the RMTC Laboratory Code of Ethics.
Major changes in key staff without proper and timely notification to RMTC.
Failure to cooperate in any RMTC enquiry in relation to the activities of the Laboratory.
Non-compliances identified from laboratory on-site assessments.
Loss of financial and administrative support jeopardizing the quality and/or viability of the Laboratory.
Material breach of contractual obligation to a State Horse Racing Authority.

Hardy declined to elaborate on the nature and severity of the issues identified by the RMTC with operations at the UK Lab. Hardy wrote, however, that “the Horserace Testing Laboratory Committee (HTLC) will, upon receipt, review the laboratory's response and associated corrective actions. Accreditation will not be restored until the laboratory is in full compliance with the Code.”

According to the RMTC's code of standards, the “period and terms” of the suspension shall be proportionate to the “seriousness of the non-compliance(s) or lack of performance and the need to ensure accurate and reliable drug testing of Horses.”

The RMTC can suspend accreditation for a period of up to six months, according to the code of standards, during which time any problems must be “corrected, documented and reported” to the RMTC at least six weeks before the end of the suspension period.

“Delay in submitting the proper corrective actions may lead to an extension of the Suspension period,” the code of standards explains. If the problems are not rectified, laboratory accreditation will be revoked, the document states, “unless an extension, not to exceed two (2) months, is granted by the RMTC.”

In a brief phone interview with the TDN, Hardy added that the RMTC has been “very pleased with the response and communication with executive staff at the University of Kentucky regarding the laboratory and have been assured that they are proactively seeking to redeem those requirements.”

Since Feb. 16, all samples collected in Kentucky and Florida that previously would have been analyzed by the UK Lab have been redirected to Industrial Laboratories in Colorado.

The TDN has reached out to the University of Kentucky for comment. The story will be updated as necessary.

According to a HIWU spokesperson, both agencies were “not party” to the RMTC's decision to suspend its accreditation of the UK Lab.

“Pending implementation of the HISA Equine Analytical Laboratory (HEAL) accreditation standards, a laboratory must be accredited by the RMTC to be eligible for consideration as one of the ADMC Program labs,” the HIWU spokesperson wrote.

Lab accreditation is only one prong of the RMTC, which is also involved in the research, education and advocacy of horse racing's anti-doping and medication control programs.

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HISA, HIWU Open Investigation into UK Lab

The Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA) and Horseracing Integrity and Welfare Unit (HIWU) have opened an investigation into the University of Kentucky's Equine Analytical Chemistry Laboratory's performance, according to a joint statement Tuesday by the agencies.

On the 16th of last month, HIWU stopped sending samples to the UK Lab. Prior to that, the laboratory had been one of six drug testing facilities used under HISA's anti-doping and medication control (ADMC) program.

Last week, Scott Stanley officially stepped down from his position as the UK Lab's director and has been reassigned within the university.

HISA and HIWU are also cooperating with the university's own investigation into the matter, according to Tuesday's joint statement.

“On Tuesday, February 13, leadership from HISA, HIWU, and the University of Kentucky met in person to discuss concerns with the performance of the University of Kentucky Equine Analytical Chemistry Laboratory (UK Lab),” reads to the joint statement.

“At this time, HISA and HIWU were informed by the university that it was conducting an ongoing personnel investigation relating to Dr. Scott Stanley, the director of the UK Lab, and Dr. Stanley was not permitted to be in direct communication with the other staff at the laboratory,” the joint statement read. “The university also expressed staffing concerns related to the laboratory's operations.”

It is currently unclear, however, what the specific nature of the investigations entail.

Earlier on Tuesday, Stanley told the TDN that he stepped down from the position in part due to delayed turnaround times of samples, issues with the chain of custody handling of samples, along with communication issues with HIWU.

“There were ongoing communication problems, getting data from the client and communicating results back,” Stanley said, about the UK lab's working relationship with HIWU.

According to Stanley, HIWU stopped sending samples to the UK Lab with no prior notification given.

In a statement, a university spokesperson wrote that Stanley remains a member of the UK faculty and that his position has been reassigned for him to “expand the scope of his research program and focus on industry priorities.”

The spokesperson added, “We are moving quickly to name an interim director as part of our commitment to the important work conducted at the lab. During this interim period, we have taken the appropriate steps to refer samples to other equipped laboratories for a complete analysis.

“We will, in the near future, announce plans for how we will search for a permanent director. Our commitment is to provide outstanding service on behalf of the horse industry. That commitment is something we are continually striving to honor.”

According to Stanley, the UK lab handled roughly 800 blood and 800 urine post-race samples a month, and approximately 600 additional blood samples monthly, associated with TCO2, vets' list and out-of-competition testing.

Since Feb. 16, all samples collected in Kentucky and Florida that previously would have been analyzed by the UK Lab have been redirected to Industrial Laboratories in Colorado “indefinitely,” according to HISA and HIWU's joint statement.

“Going forward, HISA and HIWU are fully confident in the ability of Industrial Laboratories to handle the increased volume of samples and ensure that all samples are processed and analyzed in compliance with the ADMC Program,” the statement read.

These developments mark the latest twist in HISA's efforts to build an efficient and uniform drug testing program from a previously fractured lab testing environment.

The TDN reported last year that a variety of differences between the laboratories–from different testing equipment to different testing methodologies to different sets of staff interpreting the results–mean that they screen for different numbers of substances, and have varying abilities to screen for the same substances, outside of some 300 core analytes.

“HISA and HIWU remain steadfast in our commitment to promoting the highest levels of safety, integrity, and welfare in Thoroughbred racing. As part of this commitment, we continually evaluate our partner laboratories through an external quality assurance program, as well as internal assessments,” their joint statement read, on Tuesday.

“For the benefit of all human and equine stakeholders, laboratories who fail to satisfy our requirements will be removed from service in the ADMC Program.”

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